WINAIR discontinues service to Anguilla

St. Maarten – March 31, 2014, – WINAIR has notified the Anguilla gov’t and its handler in Anguilla that WINAIR will be discontinuing air service between St. Maarten – Anguilla – St. Maarten. When planning WINAIR’s first quarter schedule to include Anguilla, our partner airline AIR ANTILLES was to lease WINAIR aircraft to operate Anguilla – San Juan – Anguilla which would have assisted in filling void created when American Eagle ceased operations in the Caribbean. It is most unfortunate that regulatory issues have caused Anguilla – San Juan – Anguilla service to be deferred until such time as required regulatory issues are satisfactorily resolved.

“Air service from St. Maarten to Anguilla is not economically sustainable due to large volume of passengers who elect to utilize ferry service for economic reasons. The cost and taxes on air service provide a large financial competitive advantage to the ferry service.

WINAIR is coordinating with our customers who are booked on WINAIR to be accommodated on Alternate Carriers; this will avoid any disappointment to travelers who have previously booked air transportation on WINAIR.

We regret having to make this decision however WINAIR receives no financial assistance from its shareholders or destinations we serve which make it necessary for WINAIR to operate in a financially viable fashion which is the mandate from our shareholders.